Results 1,561-1,580 of 6,045 for speaker:Frank Feighan

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Maternity Services (30 Apr 2021)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Senator for raising what is a very important issue. The senior Minister, Deputy Donnelly, myself and many others fully appreciate how restrictions across the health system are affecting service users. I acknowledge that the restrictions in maternity hospitals are particularly difficult for expectant mums and their partners. Indeed, a year and a half ago I was the partner of an...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Maternity Services (30 Apr 2021)

Frank Feighan: This does not come under my remit, although I am responding to the matter. I acknowledge the difficulties and anxieties that restrictions in our maternity services have placed on women and their partners over the period of Covid-19. Any deviation from normal practice is a cause of regret. I hope our maternity services have performed very well in this regard and have continued to provide a...

Covid-19, Mental Health and Older People: Statements (29 Apr 2021)

Frank Feighan: I extend my sincere congratulations to my colleague, the Minister, Deputy McEntee, and her husband, Paul Hickey. It is a wonderfully exciting time for them and we are so pleased that she is the first Minister to have a baby in office.

Covid-19, Mental Health and Older People: Statements (29 Apr 2021)

Frank Feighan: I thank Deputies for their contributions on such a wide-ranging topic. Several significant issues have been raised. I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, for her response. I am sure she wishes to respond to as many more of the issues that were raised as possible. The physical and mental health well-being of people has been a Government priority throughout the pandemic. The...

Covid-19, Mental Health and Older People: Statements (29 Apr 2021)

Frank Feighan: In response to Deputy Cathal Crowe, we are very aware of the mental health issues and other related issues Covid-19 has caused for many families. That is why we brought in the Keep Well campaign, which is about keeping active. There are many issues we need to address. As the Deputy has rightly said, alcohol has been an issue. We welcome the fact that, over the last year, there has been a...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Provision (29 Apr 2021)

Frank Feighan: Government policy in relation to LGBTI+ citizens is set out in the National LGBTI+ Inclusion and the LGBTI+ National Youth Strategies, which fall under the responsibility of the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality, Integration and Youth.   The National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy aims to improve the lives of the LGBTI+ citizens of Ireland through the promotion of inclusion,...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Healthcare Policy (29 Apr 2021)

Frank Feighan: Breastfeeding is a priority for Healthy Ireland in my Department and we work closely with the HSE National Breast Feeding Co-ordinator on the Breastfeeding in a Healthy Ireland Action Plan 2016-2021. This is the framework for progressing supports for breastfeeding in Ireland and the HSE has established the National Breastfeeding Implementation Group to progress a range of actions to: -...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Staff (29 Apr 2021)

Frank Feighan: The question relates to a service matter and has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Research Board (28 Apr 2021)

Frank Feighan: The National Drug and Alcohol Survey is a general population survey of households to measure the extent and pattern of drug use among a representative sample of those aged 15 and over in Ireland. The survey is conducted by the Health Research Board. The completion of the fieldwork for the 2018/2019 survey by a third-party organisation was delayed due to difficulties in recruiting...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Drugs Strategy (28 Apr 2021)

Frank Feighan: The national drug strategy, Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery, sets out government policy on drug and alcohol use for the period 2017 to 2025. The strategy provides an integrated public health approach to drug and alcohol use, focused on reducing the harms for individuals, families and communities and promoting rehabilitation and recovery. The strategy is a dynamic strategy and contains 50...

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Drugs Strategy (28 Apr 2021)

Frank Feighan: The National Drugs Strategy ‘Reducing Harm Supporting Recovery’ sets out the Government’s strategy to address the harm caused by substance misuse in Ireland up to 2025. The Department of Health provides over €150 million to drug and alcohol services every year to support the strategy. The Health Research Board reports annually on the number of cases treated...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Addiction Treatment Services (28 Apr 2021)

Frank Feighan: As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Sexually Transmitted Infections (28 Apr 2021)

Frank Feighan: As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Promotion (28 Apr 2021)

Frank Feighan: Breastfeeding is a priority for my Department and Minister Feighan Is meeting with the Bainne Beatha Group on the 5th May to address their concerns. The HSE Breastfeeding in a Healthy Ireland Action Plan 2016-2021 is the framework for progressing supports for breastfeeding in Ireland and the HSE has established the National Breastfeeding Implementation Group to progress a range of actions...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Obesity Strategy (28 Apr 2021)

Frank Feighan: A Healthy Weight for Ireland’, the Obesity Policy and Action Plan (OPAP), was launched in September 2016 as part of the Healthy Ireland Framework.  The OPAP covers a 10-year period up to 2025 and aims to reverse obesity trends, prevent health complications and reduce the overall burden for individuals, families, the health system, and the wider society and economy. The Plan...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Drug and Alcohol Task Forces (28 Apr 2021)

Frank Feighan: The National Drugs Strategy ‘Reducing Harm Supporting Recovery’ sets out the Government’s strategy to address the harm caused by substance misuse in Ireland up to 2025. The Department of Health provides over €130 million to drug and alcohol services to support the strategy. Drug and alcohol task forces play a key role in implementing the national drugs strategy...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Covid-19 Pandemic (26 Apr 2021)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Senator for raising this very important issue. The Covid-19 vaccine allocation strategy sets out a provisional list of groups for vaccination. The strategy was developed by the national immunisation advisory committee, NIAC, and the Department of Health, endorsed by the National Public Health Emergency Team, NPHET, and approved by Government on 8 December 2020. Vaccine...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Covid-19 Pandemic (26 Apr 2021)

Frank Feighan: On the flash glucose monitoring devices, I will raise the matter within the Department, where I am sure it will be considered. The Senator will know that vaccination is recognised as one of most the cost-effective and successful public interventions. The WHO estimates that 2.3 million deaths per annum are prevented by vaccination and a further 1.5 million could be avoided if global coverage...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Healthcare Infrastructure Provision (26 Apr 2021)

Frank Feighan: I thank Senator Kyne for raising this important issue. I attended those presentations of the Saolta Group, which were quite interesting. As the Senator is aware, the national development plan states: New dedicated ambulatory elective only hospital facilities will be introduced in Dublin Galway and Cork. These facilities will provide high volume, low complexity procedures on a day and...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Healthcare Infrastructure Provision (26 Apr 2021)

Frank Feighan: I thank the Senator for his contribution. He must keep the pressure on and we hope that the Seanad will be kept informed. This issue is not part of my area in the Department but I am keen to ensure that we are kept informed. As I noted in my opening statement, the newly elective-ambulatory facilities in Galway, Cork and Dublin are expressly designed to deal with the high volume and low...